Penalty Heartbreak: The best sides to lose by penalties in the European Championships

England (Euro 1996)

A missed penalty by Gareth Southgate cost England a place in the final on home turn in 1996,

Another side that would be eliminated in the semi-finals of the 1996 European Championships by penalties. France would go on to keep the core of their team intact and be rewarded with huge success but England haven’t managed to reach another semi-final of the Euros or the World Cup since.

England were the hosts of Euro ‘96, finished top of a complicated group with the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Scotland and were desperate to win the trophy on home soil. Alan Shearer was on top form, eventually finishing as top scorer and they had the likes of Tony Adams, David Platt and Paul Gascoigne to count on as well. The English were in high spirits leading up to the semi-final clash against Germany which went to penalties.

Gareth Southgate couldn’t convert in sudden death against the Germans, and England would be denied a place in the final in Wembley. Germany would go on to win the tournament.